A burglar left a stern warning to a man who had his gun stolen from his car in Port St. Lucie.

Police said Michael Maisonneuve reported the burglary of his car Tuesday. He told officers he left his car unlocked and parked in his driveway overnight. When he returned to his car in the morning, Maisonneuve noticed someone had stolen his handgun and bullets that were left in the center console, as well as a knife that was sheathed in the driver's side-door pocket.

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But whoever took the weapons seemed to be sending a message to Maisonneuve.

Police said that when Maisonneuve went back into the house, he found a plastic bag with his gun and knife inside. The bag had writing on it in black ink that said, "LOADED GUN Unlocked car = STUPID!!" On the reverse side, the message said, "LOTS OF Children in area."

Although the gun and knife were returned, the bullets were not.

"I learned a lesson, a valuable lesson," Maisonneuve told only WPBF 25 News' Ted White on Wednesday. "I should not carry a loaded firearm in the car. I thought I locked my car. Apparently I didn't."